By: Real Brides-to-Be

When Matt Brue began his business in 2008, he saw a need for change in what he considered an underserved wedding photography market in the Twin Cities. “We approach a wedding day from a holistic standpoint,” says Brue, owner (and filmmaker) of Capture Studios. “A wedding is so much more than just a ceremony or reception, and we try not to compartmentalize the event. We want to document the entire day for you and then edit it down to a very watch-able, engaging, real film style—something you will watch time and time again, as opposed to traditional wedding video, which is usually just an hour of raw footage.”

That means being around for it all on your big day: From the girls getting their hair done and the groom donning his cuff links to the vows, toasts, and dance, Brue and co. capture every intimate detail. “Not all the content happens during the ceremony,” he says. “When you focus on all those auxiliary elements, you end up with a very unique story.” So to produce that distinct account, Capture Studios only offers a full-day commission, where the crew will come in and shoot beginning to end. From there, you can choose different lengths (three to 15 minutes) of a final edit. There’s even the option of getting a same-day, three- to five-minute edit shown at your reception.

There’s a reason they’ve shot more than 100 weddings in just three years: “They’re the best,” says Debra Arbit, a Capture Studios client. “The end result is unbelievable and so different than what else is available in Minneapolis.” Brue attributes this to the effort and quality he and his team put into each film. “When I say quality, it’s not just about the image quality,” he says. “It’s also about the content. As far as quality and emotional value go, I think those things set us apart.”

Arbit and her husband, Alex, booked Brue for their December 11 wedding (see clip above), which went head-to-head with a certain infamous Dome-damaging blizzard. To ensure the day went on as planned, Brue and his team went the extra mile, actually shoveling out cars that were stuck in the snowstorm. “They went above and beyond, and they were a big reason our wedding was even able to go forward,” she says. “Matt and his crew are probably the nicest people you will ever meet.”

However, hiring the best can come with quite the price tag: Costs range from $4,900 to $8,900, but Arbit suggests splurging on cinematography. “I would say it’s the only thing worth going all out on because it’s the only thing you really keep,” she says. “It’s where you should spend the money, and it's worth every penny. I got everything I wanted—and more.”

If you’re hoping to book Brue and the crew at Capture Studios for your big day—or you just want to view more of his videos—visit thecaptureblog.com.